Synthesis and properties of polyaniline–cellulose acetate blends: The use of sugarcane bagasse waste and the effect of the substitution degree

Membranes of blends of polyaniline (PANi) and cellulose acetate (CA) produced from sugarcane bagasse with different degrees of substitution were produced and characterized using various techniques. Results showed that incorporation of PANi into the CA matrices leads to significant alterations of the blend morphologies, with phase separation, and that these differences are less significant for PANi/cellulose triacetate blends. The blends also showed a significant increase in electrical conductivity, with that of PANi/cellulose diacetate demonstrating an almost 200-fold increase.